GDT: Sabres @ Rangers 7 PM ET TV:MSG Radio:WGR550

May 2, 2005
1,662
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Niagara Falls
As I said before, analytics and metrics don't give the whole picture. Jokiharju doesn't have chemistry with Dahlin and Power, and Rasmus is more comfortable playing on RD (he said it himself). Bryson is great, he's taking advantage of his chance, and Gilbert and Clifton look like a solid third pair right now.

A very underrated element of defense pairings is chemistry which is hard to quantify. Honestly if you go back to the most recent 10 cup winners you can examine their defences and fine multiple guys where you wonder how they won with that guy in their top 4. Often it comes down to just the chemistry they can have that clicks at the right time or just with one guy.
 

joshjull

Registered User
Aug 2, 2005
79,597
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Hamburg,NY
As I said before, analytics and metrics don't give the whole picture. Jokiharju doesn't have chemistry with Dahlin and Power, and Rasmus is more comfortable playing on RD (he said it himself). Bryson is great, he's taking advantage of his chance, and Gilbert and Clifton look like a solid third pair right now.
I think thats a huge part of it. He’s just more dynamic paired with another lefty. He likes to shift back and forth between sides when he’s paired with one, you saw a that ton with Sammy.

Funny thing is he even tries to force that with Joker at times. There have been occasions when both are on their offhand backing through the NZ as the opposing team is on the attack.


If Byram can feel comfortable on his off hand and play the same way Sammy did with Dahlin. We may have something that is greatly needed development for the team. My only concern is last season when Byram was struggling (with Avs) he blamed it partially on playing on his offhand. Hopefully that was just his frustration talking.
 
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slip

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Aug 19, 2005
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When UPL is dialed in like he is right now, and when the team commits to what Ruff is selling, as they’ve done the past two games — this is a top 10 NHL team.

Keep hope alive!
 
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BowieSabresFan

Registered User
Nov 18, 2010
4,405
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When UPL is dialed in like he is right now, and when the team commits to what Ruff is selling, as they’ve done the past two games — this is a top 10 NHL team.

Keep hope alive!
Their play the last 2 games has been really nice to see. They just need to find consistency.
 

Bobby Bottle Service

Win for Rick
Dec 15, 2005
5,355
3,508
Toronto
He’s been amazing, effort level always at a 10. He’s also been a real leader, playing with a ton of emotion. No one seems to get more fired up when we score and he’s constantly talking and yelling on the bench, keeping the boys fired up and on their toes. Very impressed
I didn't think he'd crack our lineup and would be an expensive 13th forward.

Mmmm, this crow is devine.
 

Matt Ress

Don't sleep on me
Aug 5, 2014
5,610
3,278
Appalachia
So nice to see Quinn waking up. Still not sure if he was bothered by an injury the first few weeks.

UPL getting into a groove early in the season.

PP showing signs of life

Team being aggressive against a very good rag squad. Love to hear it


Editing was a little weird. I didn't watch this one. I'm assuming the called back goal was JJs short angle goal? They played the ruling before the goal. Unless they edited it correctly over night.
 

KeepKane

Registered User
May 6, 2015
117
97
The wave of goals in the second felt like it was 1999 / 2006 all over again.
The speed of Peterka, Cozens, McCleod, Malenstyn, & Lafferty was infectious. They were flying past the Rangers similar to the 06' Flyers LOL. Maybe we managed the rocky waters while goaltending, PP, and 2nd line decided to wake up after a long nap. Quinn looks to be playing with more confidence. If we can get that line going and have the ability to feed them easier minutes, we can play .600 hockey which is all we might need to finish top 3 in division.

Zucker has been an absolute gamer. His grinding and positioning has helped lift the PP, and also has made his line more than hold their own at 5v5. I hope Benson can learn from him. Zach has the vision and should be more of a playmaker but if he can emulate Zucker in other areas, he's gonna be a beaut.

The D depth is paying off right now. We knew Bryson could fill in, Gilbert is a nice bottom pair physical Dman. Samuelsson to me just seems like the lazy guy that is just happy to get a check and leaves to play video games and smoke weed after practice. I was surprised when he received an "A" and I did not like his response to his benching. "oh well, I will have ups and downs, yada yada, I'm used to playing more minutes." Well you haven't earned 15 mins per night, let alone 22. He will get a chance to draw back in and better show the shutdown D type play from a few years ago. If Dahlin is back on the right side, maybe playing him with Samulesson would be best. This pair worked in the past. Let Dahlin roam and Sammy can cover for him and play PK. Sammy knows he doesn't need to handle puck, just give it to Dahlin. Joki just doesn't fit well with anyone.

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Byram-Power
Gilbert-Clifton
Bryson
 

Fjordy

Registered User
Jun 20, 2018
16,996
9,338
The speed of Peterka, Cozens, McCleod, Malenstyn, & Lafferty was infectious. They were flying past the Rangers similar to the 06' Flyers LOL. Maybe we managed the rocky waters while goaltending, PP, and 2nd line decided to wake up after a long nap. Quinn looks to be playing with more confidence. If we can get that line going and have the ability to feed them easier minutes, we can play .600 hockey which is all we might need to finish top 3 in division.

Zucker has been an absolute gamer. His grinding and positioning has helped lift the PP, and also has made his line more than hold their own at 5v5. I hope Benson can learn from him. Zach has the vision and should be more of a playmaker but if he can emulate Zucker in other areas, he's gonna be a beaut.

The D depth is paying off right now. We knew Bryson could fill in, Gilbert is a nice bottom pair physical Dman. Samuelsson to me just seems like the lazy guy that is just happy to get a check and leaves to play video games and smoke weed after practice. I was surprised when he received an "A" and I did not like his response to his benching. "oh well, I will have ups and downs, yada yada, I'm used to playing more minutes." Well you haven't earned 15 mins per night, let alone 22. He will get a chance to draw back in and better show the shutdown D type play from a few years ago. If Dahlin is back on the right side, maybe playing him with Samulesson would be best. This pair worked in the past. Let Dahlin roam and Sammy can cover for him and play PK. Sammy knows he doesn't need to handle puck, just give it to Dahlin. Joki just doesn't fit well with anyone.

Samuelsson-Dahlin
Byram-Power
Gilbert-Clifton
Bryson
I don't think Byram - Power pairing worked. For now, Byram is playing with Dahlin and we're winning games, so be it. They may not be a good fit on paper, but in practice, it could work. We don't need to force Power to play RD, if Dahlin plays better at RD and likes it there, it doesn't mean Power needs it and Lindy doesn't like it either. For now, Bryson is working, and then maybe some kind of deal will be needed for a defensive RD to join the second pair.

I don't see any place for Jokiharju in this lineup.
 
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TheDawnOfANewTage

Dahlin, it’ll all be fine
Dec 17, 2018
12,911
19,093
The wave of goals in the second felt like it was 1999 / 2006 all over again.

Was listening on the way home from work, caught Tage’s goal and then popped into the gas station real quick. It was 5-0 by the time I was back.

I’ll gladly miss watching most games live if they play like that!
 

Dubi Doo

Registered User
Aug 27, 2008
20,218
14,071

McLeod is so noticeable in those hightlights. He really uses his soeed wisely. I don't say this often, but Kudos Kevyn. Obtaining a young top-9 C under team control who still has some potential to squeeze out of him is not easy to do. Losing Savoie hurts, but man is this trade paying dividends right now.

Also, if Cozens line can play this way going forward, then we're in pretty good shape. Cozens scoring on a harder wrister was nice to see. Posters think he has a weak shot. He doesn't. He's scored from the top of the circle with his wrist shot in the past. The problem is, he passes up on so many opportunities. If this goal reminds him he has a heavy wrister that can beat NHL goalies, then that bodes well going forward. Im sure Benson is helping that line a lot, too.

I <3 the 4th line chipping in. Theyre really a PITA to play against, so them being rewarded was nice. Krebs likes the dirty work. I think we have something in him as a speedy, ratty bottom 6 (perhaps 4th line) C.

UPL playing like last year? Yes please.

The Sabres punched the Rangers in the mouth, and the Rangers wanted nothing to do with it. Let's hope teams continue to view as a summer league team!
 
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Dubi Doo

Registered User
Aug 27, 2008
20,218
14,071
He’s been amazing, effort level always at a 10. He’s also been a real leader, playing with a ton of emotion. No one seems to get more fired up when we score and he’s constantly talking and yelling on the bench, keeping the boys fired up and on their toes. Very impressed
Loved the signing then because I knew he'd be wicked with his stick, hard to play against, hold down a top-9 spot, and chip in offensively (though not to this level, obviously). I was surprised so many posters were upset. Seemed like a good player to take a flyer on. Wonder if they give him a short term deal. He's getting up there in age.
 

1point21Gigawatts

hell's a gigawatt?
Apr 7, 2010
6,920
3,303
The future
I think it was greenway's goal from Malenstyn where someone jumped up onto Greenway in celebration. That moment really got me. I love watching the team have fun and get pumped during games. It makes watching so much more enjoyable.
 

MOGlLNY

Registered User
Jan 5, 2008
12,323
12,589
I think it was greenway's goal from Malenstyn where someone jumped up onto Greenway in celebration. That moment really got me. I love watching the team have fun and get pumped during games. It makes watching so much more enjoyable.


1731080033321.png


Malenstyn seems like such a great dude
 
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markpenske

Registered User
Jul 2, 2015
1,605
767
I was in a dark place with this team after the Columbus game but they look like they're coming around. What a performance. I wish Joker and Sammy were part of it.
I was Greenway's biggest critic, man was I wrong. He looks like a good piece moving forward.
 
May 2, 2005
1,662
917
Niagara Falls
I can't recall the amount of games teams have played against us in the past years where their passes are so crisp, timed perfectly despite our players pressuring or obstructing the lanes and I was just envious of their ability and luck.

Last night some of the passes like Zucker to Greenway, Lafferty goal etc was just perfect. I do not think our team has played that in sync in the last two years. I do believe that being in sync with chemistry is what makes teams successful.

We've had big games - but I feel this was a game where almost every aspect was cohesive. I so desperately want a long winning streak to create some mental wiggle room that one loss doesn't sink my emotions. I want consistent good play that after one loss I am confident that we will win the next game.
 

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